COMPENSATION PROMISES: New Taipei City’s deputy mayor said that a construction firm had promised new homes and Lunar New Year supplies for those affected
By Lo Kuo-jia and Jake Chung / Staff reporter, with staff writer
Residents of an apartment building in New Taipei City’s Sanchong District (三重) that toppled on Monday met with Sinsheng Construction Co yesterday to discuss compensation.
The building’s collapse — and the destabilization of a neighboring building — were linked to activity at a construction project.
Shortly after excavation work began at 9am at the construction site on Liuzhang Street, two neighboring apartment buildings tilted and cracked, with exterior tiles falling off.
An excavator demolishes the remains of a building on Liuzhang Street in New Taipei City’s Sanchong District yesterday.
Photo: Liu Hsin-de, Taipei Times
Authorities ordered the buildings evacuated. No injuries were reported.
Measures were taken to stabilize the building at No. 190, which appeared to be more badly affected, but the building at No. 184 on the other side of the construction project collapsed at 8:45pm on Monday.
Residents yesterday met with the company with city government officials at the site.
New Taipei City Deputy Mayor Chu Yang-chih (朱楊之) yesterday said that Sinsheng was willing to purchase or rebuild houses for those who lost theirs.
Sinsheng also offered a lump sum of NT$200,000 to the owners of the houses and NT$30,000 to people who were leasing units in the buildings to help pay for clothing and other items with the Lunar New Year period approaching, Chu said.
The New Taipei City Government would support the residents and owners and ensure their rights are protected, he said.
Public counsel would be provided, and the city would ensure that Sinsheng backed up its promises, he added.
Yesterday’s negotiations were preliminary and more details would be made available after a second round of talks, sources said.
Additional reporting by CNA
